This physical gaming experience was a critical and financial success, and SEGA’s continued investment in entertainment games led to Mario & Sonic in the Rio Olympics 2016 – Arcade Edition, an entertainment version of that game built around the 2016 Olympics. In terms of entertainment, Nintendo and Mario seem to be taking different paths, away from the arcade scene that began their meteoric rise from card game and toy maker. After licensing and releasing Mario Kart Arcade GP in 2005, an entertaining version of the popular 1992 title, the company has continued to promote the franchise with numerous sequels, most recently in Japan with Mario Kart Arcade Grand Prix DX. In one of “his” infrequent articles for Arcade Heroes, Kevin Williams talks about the incredible impact that one of the world’s most recognizable game characters has had and continues to have on the entertainment landscape. However, the development of the original sports game continued to fuel its popularity, and SEGA released the second installment of the series along with Mario & Sonic at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics – Arcade Edition. Two rides opened at the venue: Mario Kart: Koopa’s Challenge, an impressive ride in the dark, and the first of its kind that uses AR points for all four passengers per vehicle, allowing them to collect coins during a frantic holiday or go-kart race in Mario World. But beyond that, it was pure fun for what has become a corporate mascot, and for most outside appearances Mario was a house icon for games that had no impact on the entertainment industry. This reinvestment in entertainment is reflected in perhaps the most important appearance of Mario in the outside-the-home entertainment landscape. Various versions of this fun game, so beloved by gamers in Japan and the West – and even presidents – have proven so consistent that it is one of Bandai Namco Amusements’ longest-running games, having debuted in 2013. Successful console games have entered the entertainment sphere, and games like Super Mario Bros. mark Nintendo’s continued importance in out-of-home entertainment, not just for advertising but also for direct influence.